Digital Government

NPS to Vets: Polish On -- Soon

The National Park Service plans to accommodate veterans and active duty troops who shine the <a href=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=212>base of the flagpole</a> at the Vietnam Memorial. But it has asked the polishers to wait until it changes the patina from its original dark brown to a brighter finish, Stephen Lorenzetti, deputy superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, told me.

Digital Government

Vietnam Memorial Brass Polishing Update

No one seems to think it's a good idea for the National Park Service to bust a couple of veterans for polishing the brass on the base of the flagpole at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, based on the comments I received on an <a href=http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/06/park_police_dont_shine_that_br.php>item I wrote on Monday</a>.

Digital Government

Bing, Brewin, Obama and DISA

Microsoft's <a href=http://www.bing.com/?FORM=MFEHPG&PUBL=Google&CREA=userid1743go51d367c64cb6b50c6d8b0b7fe5f35618>Bing</a> search engine went live today, and I decided to test it against Google with my all-time favorite search term, "Bob Brewin."

Digital Government

Park Police: Don't Shine That Brass

This bit goes under the heading of "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished."

Digital Government

The Consumer's Guide to Intel Nets

The public affairs folks over at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence were kind enough to send me a copy of a <a href=http://www.dni.gov/reports/IC_Consumers_Guide_2009.pdf>handbook</a> that is distributed to intelligence professionals, which, among other things, highlights some top-secret networks that until now have been, well, top secret.

Digital Government

CIO Guthrie's Big Task

Priscilla Guthrie <a href=http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/03/priscilla_guthrie_named_cio_fo.php>started work</a> this week as the intelligence community chief information officer. Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence, emphasized that one of her key tasks will be to "advance our information sharing goals."

Digital Government

Bio-Labs Cyber Threats Ignored?

Laboratories that conduct research on dangerous biological agents such as anthrax have not paid much attention to the potential of cyber threats or cyber intrusions, the Defense Science Board <a href=http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2009-05-Bio_Safety.pdf>said in a report</a> released this week.

Digital Government

Mega Cyber Brief Coming Soon

It's hard to figure out who's on first in the cybersecurity game, as the White House slogs its way through a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090326_7200.php>60-day cybersecurity review</a>, the National Security Agency stands up a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090506_4087.php>Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare</a> and the Homeland Security Department <a href= http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090309_2252.php>jockeys</a> to run the cyber mission outside of the Defense Department.

Digital Government

Memorial Day, Brasso, JPAC and Comrades

Army Sgt. Caleb Barrieau plans to honor on Monday -- Memorial Day -- the 58,195 fallen troops whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial the same way he has every weekend for the past nine weeks - with a can of Brasso and a polishing rag.

Digital Government

Langston or Gilligan for Defense CIO

I'm picking up hints that Dr. Marv Langston, <a href=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun1997/m06121997_m100-97.html>appointed</a> the Navy's first chief information officer in 1997 and <a href=http://www.gilligangroupinc.com/about/john-gilligan-biography.html>John Gilligan</a>, who served as Air Force CIO from 2000-2005, are candidates for the Defense Department CIO slot, vacant since John Grimes <a href=http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/05/grimes_has_left_the_building.php>left the job</a> last month.

Digital Government

Grimes Has Left the Building . . .

. . . and the Obama administration hasn't yet named a replacement for him as assistant secretary of Defense for networks and information integration - in other words, the chief information officer.

Digital Government

. . . But Baker IS in the Building . . .

. . . after being sworn in today as the new assistant secretary for information and technology and chief information officer at the Veterans Affairs Department headquarters on Vermont Avenue. He will need to tackle a range of problems, including the outsourcing of numerous VA IT development projects to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

Digital Government

RFID Tracking the DIA Folks

Before employees who labor away in the Darth Vader building at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington get too excited, the Defense Intelligence Agency is <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=cff66a119515afa7a27e81bed38e9da8&tab=core&_cview=0&cck=1&au=&ck=>looking</a> to use Radio Frequency Identification chips to track its personnel -- in emergency situations ONLY, not every minute of their lives.

Digital Government

Seeking Athena-like Wisdom

The intelligence community's research outfit, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=bcfa0a11aa14bdd4dac7dfe6cd79e9a4>wants to hear</a> from companies that can do work on its Top Secret Athena program, which focuses on <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7c980be813de2bc2f8c94ce010344a4b&tab=core&_cview=1>Computer Network Operations</a>.

Digital Government

HERBB's Not Here

I've spent the past two work days attempting -- to no avail -- to access documents on an upcoming procurement on the Hanscom [Mass.] Air Force Base Electronic Request for Proposals Bulletin Board, known as <a href=http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil/>HERBB</a>, which the Air Force Electronic Systems Center operates.

Digital Government

Rethinking Video Conferencing

A couple of years ago, the Defense Information Systems Agency cranked up a <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?tab=core&s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e0df5e4191fab7cf3d34369fba79a69e&cck=1&au=&ck=>procurement</a> for the operation and maintenance of its video conferencing hubs scattered nationwide. The sites were essentially television studios for generals and other top Defense Department officials, but today, practically everyone has a TV studio attached to their computer - a camera and a microphone.

Digital Government

San Antonio Wins Cyber Sweepstakes

The Air Force has selected Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio as the preferred headquarters for its cyber command, the 24th Air Force, pending an environmental review. The decision really puzzles me.

Digital Government

Sailors Love NMCI; Marines Not So Much

Sailors just love the Navy Marine Corps Intranet, according to the latest <a href=http://www.donhq.navy.mil/aausn/ContentView.aspx?ID=513>quarterly survey</a> conducted by the Navy Department and contract-holder EDS, although overall Marine satisfaction dipped 2 percentage points in the quarter ended March 31.

Digital Government

The Good News and Bad News

First, the good news. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today unanimously <a href= http://veterans.senate.gov/press-releases.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=9bd6e171-5de3-4eed-982d-99335b6d7aff_>approved the nomination</a> of Roger Baker as assistant secretary for information and technology and chief information officer at the Veterans Affairs Department.

Digital Government

Cyber Commander New A.F. CIO

The Air Force said President Obama will nominate Maj. Gen. William T. Lord for promotion to a three-star rank and a new assignment as the service's chief information officer and chief of warfighting integration.